A mixture of 10.0 grams (0.019 mole) of N-phenylmethyl-4-[bis(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)hydroxymethyl]piperidine hydrochloride (prepared as in Steps A and B of Example 3) and 3.0 grams of 5% palladium (catalyst) on charcoal in about 200 mL of 1:1 methanol:ethanol was shaken in a Parr hydrogenator for five to six hours at about 85° C., until the theoretical amount of hydrogen gas was taken up. The mixture was cooled to ambient temperature where it stood for about 18 hours. The mixture was filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure to a residue, which was stirred with ethyl acetate and an aqueous solution saturated with sodium bicarbonate until the residue dissolved. The organic layer was separated and passed through phase-separation paper to remove aqueous material. The organic layer was concentrated under reduced pressure, yielding about 7.0 grams of 4-[bis(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)hydroxymethyl]piperidine. The NMR spectrum was consistent with the proposed structure.
